From the 1976 Olympiad

 

Looking in the archives of Haifa's municipal government, I have found much material relating to the 1976 chess Olympiad. Here is one example: the top photo a certificate for participation in the 'Haifa Chess Olympiad Display Window Contest.' This context was a contest among local businesses to decorate their display windows in a chess-related and, especially, Olympiad-related way, by using the Olympiad's symbol, etc. 

The bottom photo is an advertisement from the August 1976 Haifa's Merchants' General Union publication, asking 'Haifa Merchants' to 'properly decorate their businesses', and that the union can give them appropriate decorating material. They also suggest giving a discount to 'all comers who wear the Olympiad's symbol.' 

Source: Haifa City Archive, files no. 23589-01161/11 (top photo) and 23582-01161/4 (bottom photo).  

"Ganef:" The other Side of the Story

 

Mr. Herbert Halsegger had notified us that he had found the "Ganef" story - from the "older British player"'s point of view. In the Weiner Shach-Zeitung of Jan. 1933, pp. 18-19, in an interview with Viktor Teitz, Teitz reminisces about Burn, Blackburne, and others. In this version, Blackburn speaks of a "younger player" who exclaimed that "the old Ganef managed to swindle me after all!" and Blackburne finally asks the crucial question, whether a Ganef is a gentlemen or not. 

One problem with the claim that this is Blackburne is, as Mr. Halsegger notes, only played with Nimzowitsch twice, and beaten him once (St. Petersburg, 1914). Calling that game a "swindle" - if, indeed, that is the game - is somewhat of an exaggeration. Computer analysis says Nimzowitsch had an advantage at one point, but was certainly not clearly winning. Another problem is that the story, oddly, comes in several versions, but seems to often only mention one of the players, never both. 

Added 29/10/21: Mr. Halsegger notes Edward Winter had investigated the issue, as can be seen in Chess Notes #6513.  that the story has several versions, and sometimes mentions both the (alleged) players - always Blackburne, but with various opponents and observers. 

Another News Bulletin of the 1964 Olympiad

 

A frequent correspondent sent us another news bulletin of the 1964 chess Olympiad in Tel Aviv. It was recorded by the "Geva Bulletins" (Yomaney Geva) in Herzlia studios.